Functional Medicine & Lyme
- Modulate the inflammatory-immune response
- Address the infection and co-infections
- Check for mould exposure
- Supporting detoxification pathways
- Determine nutrient deficiencies and provide nutrient support
- Addressing the mental and emotional factors (stress management)
- Support intestinal dysfunction and overall gut health
Full Answer
Can functional medicine help treat Lyme disease?
Treating Lyme disease involves diagnosis followed by treatment with a Functional Medicine practitioner. As I’ve mentioned, this can become a challenging trial-and-error process that requires patience and effort.
What is the Lyme disease treatment approach?
While the following Lyme disease treatment approach focuses on a limited number of areas, it may correct most of the problems like: immune compromise and suppression. Herxheimer Reactions. When a person starts a Lyme disease treatment or changes herbal and prescription antibiotics, it is common to experience some worsening in symptoms.
How effective is disulfiram for Lyme disease?
While it appears effective against persisters in the laboratory, it is unclear if it addresses the growth phase of Lyme infection. If you are new to treating Lyme disease, I do not recommend starting with a disulfiram alone treatment due to how difficult a treatment can be and the fact it may miss growing forms of Lyme.
Can herbs help with Lyme disease?
A host of nutrients, including herbs, can help with Lyme. These include immune-boosting herbs including cordycep, reishi, and maitake mushrooms that help kill off bad bacteria, as well as immune-boosting vitamin D, anti-inflammatory curcumin (found in turmeric), and magnesium.
How do you treat chronic Lyme disease naturally?
Natural Treatments for Lyme DiseaseEssential oils.Supplements.Hyperbaric oxygen therapy.Chelation therapy.Other treatments.Safety.
How do you beat chronic Lyme disease?
A targeted antibiotic for treating Lyme diseaseResearchers found that a neglected antibiotic called hygromycin A selectively kills the bacteria that cause Lyme disease.The antibiotic was able to treat Lyme disease in mice without disrupting the microbiome.
Can chronic Lyme disease be reversed?
There is currently no cure for chronic Lyme disease. People with the condition typically get better with time, although it may take several months. In most cases, a doctor will focus the treatment plan on managing pain and other symptoms.
Can chronic Lyme go into remission?
For some patients who are treated immediately, Lyme can be cured. But for many of us who were undiagnosed for years and battle persistent physical and neurological symptoms, we always run the risk of relapse.
Can you treat late stage Lyme disease?
Antibiotics such as those named above can be used in the treatment of late-stage, chronic, and “disseminated” (CDC) Lyme disease. Some doctors, including Lyme-literate doctors, prescribe longer-term antibiotic programs than the typical 2-4 week regimen.
Can stevia cure Lyme disease?
An Action Plan for Treating Resistant Lyme & Chronic Disease,” is currently conducting clinical studies using combinations of antibiotics with and without stevia for his patients with chronic Lyme disease. Dr. Horowitz says, “No one is claiming stevia is a cure for Lyme disease.
Can Stage 3 Lyme disease be cured?
Stage 3 (late disseminated) Lyme disease is also treated with various antibiotics: For Lyme disease that causes arthritis, 28 days of oral doxycycline, amoxicillin, or cefuroxime is prescribed. Additional courses of antibiotics may be necessary, depending on the severity and persistence of your symptoms.
Can nerve damage from Lyme disease be reversed?
Steere and two colleagues who studied the disease cautioned that only a few Lyme patients suffer this lingering nerve disorder, and most can be cured with antibiotics given early in their infections.
How Long Does Chronic Lyme disease last?
They may last up to six months or longer. These symptoms can interfere with a person's normal activities and may cause emotional distress as a result. However, most people's symptoms improve after six months to a year. It's not known why some people develop post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome and others don't.
How do you know if you have chronic Lyme disease?
Chronic Lyme disease is an ongoing Borrelia burgdorferi infection that can involve any body system or tissue. The infection produces a wide range of symptoms and signs, which can be debilitating for some patients. Common symptoms include severe fatigue, migratory musculoskeletal pain, headaches, and impaired memory.
Does doxycycline cure Lyme disease?
For early Lyme disease, a short course of oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline or amoxicillin, cures the majority of cases. In more complicated cases, Lyme disease can usually be successfully treated with three to four weeks of antibiotic therapy.
Is Lyme disease an underlying condition for Covid?
Lyme disease is an infection spread by a tick bite. It can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms often mimic those of other conditions....Coronavirus vs. Lyme Disease.SYMPTOMSCOVID-19LYME DISEASEChills and AchesXXSore ThroatXDigestive DiscomfortXCoughDry (no mucus)14 more rows
What is the functional approach to lyme disease?
The functional approach to the management of Lyme disease is aimed at stimulating the body’s own defence mechanisms to activate a healing and repair process which ultimately restores health. Our goal is to treat the patient and not just the infection. As Lyme disease is a multisystem infection there are many factors that need to be addressed.
How to treat lyme disease early?
It’s important to address gut health and repopulate the microbiome, specifically as antibiotics are often an important first step in early Lyme management. Take a good quality multi-strain probiotic and repopulate via fermented foods such as sauerkraut.
Why are Lyme patients depleted?
Due to the extra burden of additional bacteria feasting on your reserves all Lyme patients are in general vary depleted in various vitamins, minerals and amino acids. An exact panel of deficiencies will help with supplementation and regulation.
Can lyme disease cause a co-infection?
Patients with Lyme disease are more likely to suffer from co-infections such as Babesia, Bartonella, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia. Ticks can often carry several other pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. Some of the organisms in ticks are not pathogenic but they can still create a more favourable environment for Lyme disease. Other tick-borne organisms are pathogenic and can cause their own symptoms and complications.
Can antibiotics cure lyme disease?
While antibiotics certainly have their place in the treatment of Lyme disease, they do not address the underlying root causes such as immune system dysregulation, inflammation, poor gut health, co-infections. The functional approach provides a safe, effective, and natural way to limit and address the manifestations of this infection and restore health.
What is the microorganism that causes lyme disease?
The micro-organism that causes Lyme is called “Borrelia Burgdorferi,” named after Dr. Willy Burgdorfer who discovered it. Though it’s only recently been researched, there are records of the mysterious illness as far back as the 1800s in Europe.
Can lyme disease be transmitted by ticks?
I had been taught that Lyme disease is very rare in Arizona, only transmitted by ticks, and that a bulls eye rash would be seen with an infected bite. Like so many things I dig into, the truth is very different than the standard medical information. My wife got Lyme from an insect bite in Arizona, and never had the signature bulls eye rash.
Can Borrelia Burgdorferi be treated alone?
Generally, patients who have been treated this way only get sicker over time, because Borrelia Burgdorferi, with its different forms, can protect itself when threatened. Antibiotic therapy (which to date I have not needed to use) can be used successfully BUT not alone.
Can you test for lyme disease?
Testing for Lyme. Not only does this disease mimic many other conditions, but testing can be difficult. The problem is that the bacteria which causes Lyme, Borrelia Burgdorferi, can be very covert. Normally a spirochete shaped bacterium, it also has a cystic form, which is nearly invisible to all testing.
Is lyme disease a functional disease?
Lyme disease is a condition that the functional medicine approach is a great fit for. Getting patients well requires more than just killing bacteria. If you filled out the questionnaire above and you think you might be suffering from Lyme, I would love to help you. This disease is very personal for me. I’ve seen up close and personal just how debilitating chronic Lyme can be. Unfortunately this is one disease that standard medicine has a long way to go in understanding how to diagnose and treat. Most patients with Lyme who go to their regular doc will not be diagnosed or they will be misdiagnosed. Because I tend to see patients who have already been to many doctors without getting well, I screen almost everyone for immune markers for Lyme. It still amazes me how often patients test positive.
What is lyme and functional medicine?
Lyme and the Functional Medicine Approach. Anyone who has suffered from the long-term consequences of Lyme disease knows that it can be a devastating, life-altering illness.
What is the controversial part of lyme?
The controversial part of Lyme is the chronic or persistent form. It is so controversial that even using the term Chronic Lyme raises the ire of many doctors. Even among “Holistic Doctors” antibiotics are often the mainstay of treatment for the persistent form of Lyme.
Can you get over Lyme disease without intervention?
Of interest is that most people with acute Lyme seem to get over it without intervention. Others continue to be ill and get tested and treated. Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion surrounding even acute Lyme.
Can lyme cause fever?
Other Borrelia and other Spirochetes (the kind of bacteria that Borrelia is) can cause similar illnesses. Acute Lyme is a disease that everyone in the medical community agrees exists. It is a syndrome of fever, sweats, joint pains and fatigue. Of interest is that most people with acute Lyme seem to get over it without intervention.
To Bear Some Symptoms Is Akin To Martyrdom
Allopathic medicine has its place. Excruciating pain is the most obvious example. How does one carry on with their day in excruciation? The amount of meditative practice required to deal with some levels of pain is not something many of us have undertaken (I sure haven’t).
And sleep
How do we heal any aspects of our health/sanity/life when our sleep is broken and short-lived, leaving every inch and cell of us fatigued? A medication that suppresses insomnia may come with its potential side effects, but maybe the risks of its side effects are worth the gains that come with sleeping a full 8 hours.
The Holistic Approach
The holistic approach recognizes that every aspect of the body is interconnected. It questions whether hypothyroidism is caused by a true thyroid condition or if the cause goes back further; to an immune reaction to something attacking the endocrine system perhaps.
What is lyme disease?
Lyme disease is a chronic inflammatory condition caused when a certain type of bacteria , called Borrelia burgdoferi , is transmitted by the bite of a deer tick or black-legged tick. Other common infections transmitted by ticks—notably Babesia, Bartonella and Ehrlichia—will very often contribute to the severity of the condition. Although Lyme disease is easily treated in its early stages, the condition is difficult to diagnose. This is due mainly to the wide range of symptoms and to the poor reliability of lab tests that are currently used for identifying the Lyme-related infections.
How does Carolina Center treat lyme disease?
Our approach utilizes a combination of strategies that address nutrient deficiencies, immune dysfunction and hormone imbalances, along with the careful use of antibiotics, which serve as a first line therapy and thus play a pivotal role in combating Lyme disease. Much of the art of treating this condition is determining when and how to use antibiotics, immune and hormonal support, detoxification, nutritional therapies, and some combination of these options.
How to reduce Lyme disease symptoms?
Chronic stress can crash your immune system and exacerbate Lyme disease symptoms. Whether you do yoga, deep breathing, or meditation, find something you can consistently do to lower stress levels. Many Lyme disease patients find my UltraCalm CD ideal to melt away stress and anxiety. Reduce your toxic load.
How to recover from lyme disease?
But to truly recover from Lyme disease, you want to work with a practitioner who takes a whole-system approach rather than simply believing a few courses of antibiotics will make things better . If you suspect Lyme, the first step is to complete the Horowitz Lyme-MSIDS Questionnaire .
Why is Lyme disease worse?
A weakened immune system paired with suboptimal cellular function and protection, chronic bacterial infections, and exposure to environmental toxins , like molds and parasites, can make things much worse for those who suffer from chronic Lyme.
How long does it take for a lyme disease test to be accurate?
This approach also misses up to 60 percent of cases of early-stage Lyme disease, since it can take weeks for the body to develop measurable antibodies against the infection.
Why is lyme disease so difficult to treat?
Lyme is one of the most challenging, difficult situations in my practice because it mimics other illnesses such as the flu, manifesting as diverse symptoms like headaches, muscle aches, stomach ulcers, constipation, and joint pain. That makes diagnosing and treating Lyme very difficult.
What is functional medicine?
Whereas, many conventional doctors go wrong by not supporting your entire system, Functional Medicine becomes a systems-biology approach to personalized medicine that focuses on the underlying causes of disease. The very definition of Functional Medicine states that we focus on WHY, not WHAT.
Can you treat lyme disease?
You want to do everything possible to cultivate healthy soil so disease doesn’t have a place to take root. The good news is that with some work and effort, you can successfully treat Lyme disease. After you are correctly diagnosed, you want to become proactive about eliminating this disease.
What is Lyme disease treatment?
It is designed to: protect and repair from the harmful effects of the infections and the herbal or prescription antibiotics. While the following Lyme disease treatment approach focuses on a limited number of areas, it may correct most of the problems like: immune compromise and suppression.
What is the protocol for lyme disease?
These are Lyme disease treatment guidelines to treat chronic Lyme and associated diseases. This protocol addresses most problems that keep a person from getting well. It is more comprehensive than the antibiotic focused Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), International Lyme and Associated Disease Society (ILADS), and United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. While herbal and prescription antibiotics may decrease the germ load in chronic Lyme, they often do not correct the underlying problems that cause ongoing symptoms.
How long to wait for Bartonella to stabilize?
Do not start treatments for the Bartonella or Babesia coinfections at the initial visit. Wait one month or longer to adjust to the Herxheimer die-off reaction from treating the Lyme infection and to stabilize on the supportive supplements.
What is Ross Lyme Support Protocol?
The Ross Lyme Support Protocol is a set of Lyme disease treatment guidelines. Read or watch the following articles found on Treat Lyme for information about diagnosis, tests, and relapse prevention.
How long does it take to get rid of lyme disease?
Generally, it takes a minimum of six months to see if these treatments will help. Natural medicines can speed recovery, but treating Lyme still takes time. Once you have marked improvement, then you can likely stop many of these natural medicines except for probiotics, curcumin, ashwagandha, and a good multivitamin.
Can you treat lyme disease with antibiotics?
At the beginning of a Lyme disease treatment, often before antibiotics are started, it is essential to treat yeast. Doing so can limit the severity of Herxheimer die-off reactions from treating Lyme because removing yeast removes one source of inflammatory cytokine excess. Part 11. Lyme Infection Treatment.
Can you have a coinfection if you have lyme?
Continually review your symptoms to see if you have a coinfection that was missed. Treating Lyme is like peeling the layers of an onion. As you treat, it sometimes becomes more apparent which coinfections are present. In addition, it is possible to have coinfection relapses.
How long does lyme disease last?
The symptoms can last more than 6 months. No one knows what causes chronic Lyme disease. One theory is the infection damages tissues or alters the immune system. Some pain experts think the immune system’s reaction to the Lyme infection causes changes that increase pain sensations and contribute to fatigue and poor sleep.
Can a tick bite cause lyme disease?
A bite from a bacteria-infected tick causes Lyme disease. If you get the disease, you might have lingering symptoms. Some people have ongoing pain and fatigue, says Afton Hassett, PsyD, principal investigator at the Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center at University of Michigan.
